By Robert Ringer
Wow! I can’t believe what a unique idea Mark Zuckerberg came up with last week: “universal basic income” for all. The thought of everyone sitting around all day and kibitzing about global warming, methods for shutting down free speech, and a world without borders is enough to make one quit his job and head for the nearest Starbucks.
But, alas, just when my excitement had reached a frenzied level, my modest cache of knowledge got in the way. When I say got in the way, I’m referring to the fact that
knowledge is the number-one antidote to bullshit.
I fought it as hard as I could, but I simply couldn’t ignore the fact that “universal basic income” goes back to at least the mid-19th century and the world’s most famous drunk, Karl Marx. Except Marx called it communism, a word that didn’t attempt to hide its connection to one of the most dreaded words in the English language — commune or communal.
Even the Radical Left understands that you have to be careful about throwing around the word communism loosely, because virtually everyone — including the lowest-information people on the planet — realizes it’s a political system that has caused more suffering and death than all other political systems combined. Some people, like Cuban exiles, for example, have been known to become pretty ticked off when hearing elites talk about the wonders of communism.
Nevertheless, I forgive Zuckerberg for his childish idea, because — his $68 billion in net worth aside — he is, after all, just a kid. I know, I know … he’s built a giant company, but how philosophically deep can you expect someone to be if his entire adult life has been focused on an intellectually stimulating project like Facebook?
And even though he dropped out of Harvard, Zuckerberg was there long enough to become infected by the school’s radical-left views. So when he departed Harvard to expand his Facebook company, it was quite natural for him to choose the capital of billionaire Radical Leftists, Silicon Valley, as his new home.
Now, you might think, “But surely after putting in long, hard hours working seven days a week for years, he would appreciate capitalism and eschew communism in all its forms (socialism, progressivism, et al).” Unfortunately, your thinking would be wrong. Zuckerberg bought into the billionaire-communist mind-set like most everyone else in Silicon Valley.
Which leads to the question: Why do so many super wealthy people espouse transfer-of-wealth programs? When you think about it, it’s really not all that complicated. Remember, multibillionaires like Zuckerberg pay little or no taxes, so they don’t have to pay for the welfare programs they applaud. The whole issue is outside the cushy hi-tech bubble where they reside, because the bulk of transfer-of-wealth payments are made possible by middleclass men and women who pony up against their will.
The whole notion of a universal minimum income is based on the false premise that goes unchallenged by everyone on the left and, sadly, a majority of those on the right. I’m talking about the belief that income equality is a moral objective. And, as with the global-warming scam, if you’re against it, you’re evil.
The fact is that those who believe income equality is a good thing are merely stating their opinion, which is fine. But if they use their opinion as a premise, and their opinion is false, then it becomes a false premise. And it’s literally impossible to start with a false premise and arrive at an accurate conclusion.
Zuckerberg argues that if everyone knew they could rely on a guaranteed minimum income, they wouldn’t have to work at a job and could instead spend their time working on creative projects. Sounds great, but I’m not buying it.
Perhaps you remember an article I wrote a few years back titled “The Adventures of Surfer-Dude”. Do you really think a guy like Jason Greenslate (the beach bum who was the focus of that article) would spend his time on creative projects if he had a guaranteed minimum income? Let’s get real. The people who would be creative if they had a guaranteed minimum income would likely be the same folks who would be creative without a guaranteed minimum income.
One final note: Not surprisingly, Zuck’s comments reignited the cry for a guaranteed minimum income in the People’s Republic of California. Yep, financial wizard Jerry Brown is all in for doubling the state’s budget that is currently $180 billion. Hmm … now how does a state that is already $1.3 trillion in debt and boasts the highest income tax in the country pay for a new program that would be as large as its entire current budget?
Answer: You deplorables in El Paso and Des Moines and Tulsa would take care of it, just like you’re going to take care of California’s existing debt — whether or not you realize it. No time to think about it, though, because we have to concentrate on how to avoid the mass extinctions that are coming down the road as a result of the United States pulling out of the unenforceable transfer-of-wealth program known as the “Paris Climate Accord.”
I better stop there, because my blood pressure is a little high today.
ROBERT RINGER is a New York Times #1 bestselling author who has appeared on numerous national radio and television shows, including The Tonight Show, Today, The Dennis Miller Show, Good Morning America, ABC Nightline, The Charlie Rose Show, as well as Fox News and Fox Business. His books include Million Dollar Habits: 10 Simple Steps to Getting Everything You Want in Life and To Be or Not to Be Intimidated?: That is the Question
To sign up for a free subscription to his mind-expanding daily insights, visit www.robertringer.com.
Copyright © 2017 Robert Ringer
Suckerberg's problem is probably not an uncommon one in this class. At this point he is likely surrounded by sycophants and lackies whose job it is to make him think that every piece of turd that comes out of his mouth is a pearl of wisdom.
ReplyDelete"Zuckerberg argues that if everyone knew they could rely on a guaranteed minimum income, they wouldn’t have to work at a job and could instead spend their time working on creative projects. Sounds great, but I’m not buying it."
ReplyDeleteA Free Market economy, sans gov't intervention projects like the Federal Reserve, would tend to push the cost of living down so dramatically that people would be able to, in a very short time, save enough to live while pursuing non-income-producing "creative projects."
Does Zuckerberg realize Charles Murray has already staked out this pearl?
ReplyDeleteZuckerberg and Charles Murray can hold a university forum together - on their common ground of "universal basic income".
ReplyDelete"Which leads to the question: Why do so many super wealthy people espouse transfer-of-wealth programs?"
ReplyDeleteBecause they'll be running the collective. They want the power over society.
Some possible reasons for Zucks position on universal basic income:
ReplyDeleteEconomic ignorance. A lot of smart people are dumb about economics.
Future politician. RW might be correct.
Promoting the powers that should not be BS. At this point Zuck and Facebook are government assets. Zuck is part of the elite and must give back as all cronies must.
Insanity.